The Cherry Barb is a long term, staple aquarium fish, and for good reason. This fish is unaggressive, and quite peaceful toward virtually all other fishes. An active shoaling fish, these should never be maintained in groups of less than a half dozen individuals. They are quite hardy, and water conditions are unimportant. Despite being a very common aquarium fish, these fish are critically endangered in the wild.

Male Cherry Barbs have a bright red colouration, while females are generally brownish red, and have a much wider belly area. Shoals should be of mixed sex, with at least two females per male. Males may spar with each other in the aquarium, but seldom even so much as nip each other's fins. However, without the presence of sufficient females, males will soon drop their bright colouration; interaction with females and competition with other males tends to produce the best colouration in these fishes.
Cherry Barbs make great dither fish for any number of Apistogramma or other dwarf cichlids, and can be mixed with virtually any small fish that will not eat them.